London has been placed under an “extreme” wildfire risk warning as the capital braces for another stretch of very hot, dry and sunny weather — conditions firefighters fear could allow a single spark to become a fast-moving emergency.
The London Fire Brigade has raised the wildfire risk level from Saturday until at least Monday, warning residents that the combination of prolonged dry ground, wind direction and wind speed could make any grassfire spread rapidly.
Officials are now urging Londoners to take extra care in parks, gardens and open spaces, with a direct warning: no disposable barbecues in parks, no carelessly discarded cigarettes, and no leaving rubbish behind that could help fuel a fire.
The warning comes after years of increasingly serious grass and heathland fires across the capital, including the devastating July 2022 blaze in Wennington, east London, where 16 homes were destroyed after fire swept across nearby land.
That memory is now hanging heavily over the city.
Assistant Commissioner Tom Goodall said the brigade wants people to enjoy the heatwave — but only responsibly.
“We want everyone across the city to enjoy the continuing heatwave but this must be done responsibly,” Goodall said.
He warned that the latest risk assessment shows that, if grassfires begin, the chance of them spreading quickly is now significantly higher because of weather conditions.
“With so many of London’s parks and open spaces close to properties and communities, it is vital the public take as much care as possible to prevent these fires starting in the first place,” he said.
The message is simple but urgent.
Extinguish cigarettes properly. Do not use disposable barbecues in open spaces. Take rubbish home if bins are not available. And if having a barbecue at home, keep it on level ground and far away from decking, fences, trees and balconies.
Fire officials are also calling on landowners and councils to act before flames appear. They are being urged to create fire breaks, cut back grass and manage land properly — especially near homes and communities.
The warning reflects a growing concern that London’s green spaces, often surrounded by homes, roads and schools, can become dangerous during extended dry spells. While wildfires can occur naturally, the majority are caused by human behavior.
That is what makes this weekend’s warning so serious.
A cigarette end dropped in dry grass. A barbecue left burning. A glass bottle abandoned in the sun. In the wrong conditions, small acts of carelessness can trigger a chain of events that firefighters may struggle to contain quickly.
London has seen how fast that can happen.
In Wennington in 2022, flames raced through dry grassland and reached homes with terrifying speed. Families watched houses burn. Streets were blackened. The images became a symbol of how vulnerable parts of the capital can be during extreme heat.
More recently, in July 2025, residents in Dagenham were forced to leave homes temporarily after flames tore through eight hectares of Beam Valley Country Park.
Now, as the latest heatwave continues, the London Fire Brigade says it is constantly monitoring where its resources may be needed. Specialist 4×4 terrain support vehicles with large water capacity are ready to respond if fires break out in difficult-to-reach areas.
But officials are stressing that prevention remains the most important line of defense.
The wildfire risk level was assessed by the National Hazards Partnership, a group made up of government agencies, advisory bodies and research organizations.
For Londoners, the warning is not a call to panic.
It is a call to behave carefully before a preventable fire becomes a disaster.
This weekend, the city’s parks may look calm, sunny and inviting.
But firefighters are warning that beneath the heat and dry grass, the risk is real — and one careless moment could be enough.
